Clamp for carriage-tops



(No Model.)

B. B. NOYES.

CLAMP FOR yCARRIAGE TOPS.

No..25,8,798. Patented May30f188`2.

A TTG/NE Y N. PKTERS. Pnavummwgnphnr. vlnshmpmm. nc.

Umts STATES PATENT Orrice.

BAXTER B. NOYES, OF GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SANFORD A. SMITH, OF GUILFORD, VERMONT.

CLAMP FOR CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,798, dated May 30, 1882.

Application filed February 9, 1882.

My invention relates to that class of attachf` ments bywhich the canopy of a carriage is supported above the body ofthe vehicle, so as to shield the occupant from the sun or rain, and is moved back and forth to adjust it at different angles of inclination in line with the carriage as may be desired; and my invention consists in a clamping device which can be applied to the canopy with great facility, and not only be readily adjusted, but steadily sustained in its adjusted position. It is an iinprovement upon the device for a like purpose shown in Letters Patent No. 214,281, issued under date of April 15, 1879, to John M. Orosby, assignor to Sanford A. Smith, of Guilford, Vermont.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved sliding clamp attached to the under side of a canopy top, and mounted upon the curved forward end of a supporting-bar, (shown in dotted liues,) the lower end of which bar is to be attached to the body of the carriage at the back, so that the bar extends forward in line with the center of the carriage. The attachment at the lower end ot' the bar may be any of the well-known devices for that purpose which afford means for adjusting the bar laterally, while my sliding clamp affords the means of adjusting it longitudinally, ashereinafter described. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views in perspective of the several parts which make up my improved sliding` clamp, Fig. 2 showing the collar which affords central support, Fig. 3 showing the top and side supports, Fig. 4 showing the thimble, of which Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical central sections at right angles to each other, and Fig. 5 showing the clampingnut.

The top and side supports, Figs. 1, 3, con sist of a metallic base-plate, C, having suitable points, c c c c, at which it may be provided with holes i'or the screws or bolts by which it is No model.)

firmly secured to thennder side of the canopy. Projecting from opposite sides ot' the plate O are two lugs, l) D, in which bearings d d are provided ol' shape conformable t0 that of the bar. This plate O is further provided with a longitudinal slot, c e, through which I pass the ilangcd clalnpingcollar E, Figs. 2, 3, so that its ange will rest upon and he supported by the base-plate G, while its yoke F and threaded shank G project through the plate C. The collaris formed so as to permit the bar to pass freely through it, and is free to play slightly in the slot of the'base-plate when not clamped up. The sides and bottom of this collar are to conform to the shape of the bar A, and thus afford bearings to the bar. The collar being in place, and the baseplate being secured to the canopy, I now slip the thimble over the threaded shank of the collar G. This thimble, Figs. 4, (l, 7, has a rectangular slot through it of such width that it will tit closely in the lower end ofthe yoke and hold the collar firmly in place between the lugs D D, while the sides ofthe thimble are recessed, so as to fit upon the adjacent surfaces of the supporting-bar, and thus afford an additional bearing to the bar on each side of the yoke. Having adjusted the thiinble, as described, and as shown in the drawings, Fig. 1, it only remains to screw the nut I, Fig. 5, upon the threaded end of the c01- lar G, which end protrudes through the thimble a proper distance for this purpose, and the canopy is ready to be mounted upon the sup` porting-bar A. This bar A has its free end threaded, and at this end is fitted with a stopnut, which can be screwed on and off. This nut being removed, the clamp is slipped over the free end of the barA, which passes through the lugs D D and the collar G, the thiinble being loose and the collar having some play, as already mentioned. The stop-nutzt is then replaced on the end of the bar A. When the canopy is at the proper point the nut I is screwed up on the shank of the collar G and carries up with it the thimble H, atthe same time drawing down the yoke of the collar G into the slot in the thimble, and bringing up all the bearings inthe upper half of the lugs D D and inthe collar G and in the thimble El snugly in place upon the adjacent surfaces IOO ot' the bar A. It is only necessary to then tighten the nut I, and the adjustment is complete.

To change the position of the canopy it is only necessary to loosen thc nut I and slide the clamp along'the bar to its desired position, and then again tighten it up, as before. The free end ot' the bar heilig curved downward, the canopy may bc adjusted at an inclination to the horizon, and any desired lateral adjustment may be obtained by suitable provision in that behalf at the lower end of the bar, as already mentioned.

I have shown my improvements applied to the under side of the canopy and supporting the canopy above the bar A, as this is found to be the most desirable arrangement; but I contemplate using it on the upper side of the canopy whenever it is preferred to have the canopy below the bar, and it is obvious that no change is necessary for such use except simply to reverse the plate G and put the parts together.l as already described. It will, also be manifest that when the lower end ot' the barAis to be adjusted vertically this clamp may be used for that purpose.

I have also shown the supportingbar as lozenge-shaped in cross-section, and the bearings for this bar in the several parts ot my clamp ing device as conforming in sha-pe to this shape of the har; but it is obvious that the bar may be of other shapes in cross-section, and that the bearings should alwaysconform to the sha pe of the bar, so that I do not confine myself to any particular form ot' bar or of bearings, having described that which I consider best and most simple and secure. Furthermore, it will be seen that by means ot the thimble, and by thus conforming the bearings to the top edge and the two upper sides of the bar, which has a lozengc shape in cross-section, Iam enabled to clamp the attachment so firmly on such a bar that the two lower sides and the bottom ot1 the bearings in the plate C need not be nicely or closely fitted to the adjacent parts of the bar, but may be large enough to allow some play at those points, and thus facilitate the movements ot' the clamp along the bar in loeat ing the canopy; or these three lower bearings in the plate C may be dispensed with entirely, an d the three upper bearings, with the thimble below, will rmly and steadilysupport the canopy in its adjusted position.

I have shown and described the collar G as a separate piece; but it may be cast with the base-plate, though I prefer to have it separate, so as to admit of its having a slight freedom ot' motion, as described.

Having thus described the nature and object of my improvements, what I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rIhe combination ot' the base-plate C, the collar G, the thimble II, and the nut I, these parts being combined and operatingin combination substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination,witl1 the supporting-bar, of the base-plate, the collar, the thimble, and the clamping-nut, substantially as and for the purposes described.

BAXTER I3. NOYES.

IVitnesses:

CIIAUNGEY avnN'r, GEORGE W. WrLLIAMs. 

